Variable spacing feed mechanism for typewriting machines



25, 1934. R. w. ROBINSON VARIABLE SPACING FEED MECHANISM FOR 'TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Sept. 19, 1935 3 SheetsSheet 1 RJ KBobiws'on, 3 A @W Dec. 25, 1934. yv 5 N 1,985,581

VARIABLE SPACING FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Sept. '19, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. W. ROBINSON VARIABLE SPACING FEED-MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Dec. 25, 1934.

Filed Sept. 19 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 obinsow,

rammed Dec. 25, 1934 VARIABLE SPACING FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRIT'ING MACHINES Rochfort Wybrants B obinson, San Antonio, Tex. Application'September 19, 1933,, Serial No. 690,141

12 Claims. (01. 197-84) This invention relates to variable spacing feed mechanisms for typewriting machines, and has particular reference to certain desirable improvements in variable spacing feed mechanisms of the type described and claimed in my prior Patents Nos. 1,712,904 and 1,926,178.

According to .myaforesaid prior patents and also in accordance with the present invention, the

escapement mechanism which controls advance of the carriage in response to depression of the typewriter keys comprises, generally, a rack or ratchet bar which is mounted on the carriage for longitudinal movement relative thereto, an angularly adjustable track element extending longitudinally of the typewriter, and a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one of its arms operatively connected to the rack or ratchet bar and its other arm cooperating with the track element. Thus, due to the carriage and, with it, the bell-crank, being urged as usual constantly in a left hand direction, and due to the rack or ratchet bar being restrained by the escapement mechanism so that the carriage tends constantly to move to the left relative to the rack bar, the

bell-crank reacts from the track element to con-' trol advance movement of the carriage relative to the rack or ratchet bar and, therefore, the

amount that the carriage advances during each step of advance of the rack or ratchet bar is dependent upon the angularity of the track element. If the track element is disposed parallel to the path of movement of the carriage the latter obviously will partake of advance movements which are equal to advance movements of the rack or ratchet bar. Onthe other hand, if the track element is disposed at an inclination outwardly relative to the path of advance movement of the carriage, then obviously the carriage will partake of advance movements which are greater than advance movements of the rack or ratchet bar by amounts which are dependent upon theangularity of the track element. Thus, in copying from previously typed matter, lines which are shorter than the length desired may be lengthened to obtain a uniform margin at the 'right hand side of the sheet by properly adjusting the angularity of the track'element prior to the copying of each line, and in this connection one of the objects of the present invention is to provide simple, easily and quickly operable means to adjust the track element to the proper angle to assure a spacing between the characters of the line to be typed such that the line when typed will be of desired length.

When the track element is disposed 'atan illclination relative to the path of movement of the carriage, pivotal movement of the bellcrank lever occurs as the carriage advances, and since the track follower is carried by one of the arms of the bell-crank lever it is apparent that 5 in the absence of means to compensate for arouate movement of the bell-crank lever, such movement would result in a slight gain in the spacing between typed characters as the carriage advanced, which gain would increase with increase in the angularity of the track element and result in an uneven margin at the right hand side of the sheet. According to my prior Patent No. 1,926,178 means are provided whereby the bell-crank lever produces movement of the track follower in a straight line at right angles to the path of movement of the carriage, thus to compensate for arcu'ate movement of the bell-crank arm with which the track follower is connected. However, to provide for straight line movement of the track follower at right angles to the path of movement of the carriage involves complications which it is desirable to avoid. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide simplified means to compensate for arcuate movement of the track follower carrying arm of the bell-crank lever, which means permits the use of a track follower which may be mounted a on said bell-crank arm in a simple manner for swinging movement therewith. 4

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified and more compact construction, employing fewer. parts than heretofore in the switching mechanism or assembly for rendering the variable spacing feed mechanism operative and inoperative.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding-parts in the different views:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view looking towards the rear of a typewriting machine equipped with a variable spacing feed mechanism in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view looking towards the left hand side of a typewriting machine equipped with a variable spacing feed mechanism in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top' plan view, with 55 track element.

parts broken away, of the variable spacing feed mechanism showing an inoperative status of the parts thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the switch lever swung to, establish an operative status of the feed mechanism and the latter held in an inoperative status pending movement of the mechanism to a starting position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing an operative status of the variable feed mechanism.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Figure '7 is a detail section on the line 7- -7 of Fig. 3.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view illustrating the means to compensate for creeping movement of the track follower relative to the track during operation of the mechanism.

Figure 9 is an elevation, with the side plate removed, of the adjusting means for the variable spacing feed mechanism; and

Figure. 10 is a cross-section on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates, generally, a typewriting machine which may be of any suitable type and which is inclusive, as usual, of a base or frame 10, a carriage 11, and an escapement mechanism, designated generally as 12, whereby advance of the carriage in a left hand direction progresses stepby-step in response to depression of the keys.

Apart from the present variable spacing feed mechanism the machine includes, of course,

enter into the invention, no effort has been made to illustrate the same and they will not be described.

In general, the present variable spacing feed mechanism is similar to the mechanisms illustrated, described and claimed in my aforesaid prior patents. That is to say, a rack bar 13 constituting part of the carriage escapement mechanism, is mounted on the carriage for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a track element 14 extends transversely of the machine at the back thereof and is supported at its right hand end by a frame element of the machine for pivotal adjustment to extend at diiferent inclinations relative to the path of movement of the carriage, and a bell-crank lever 15 is pivoted to a.

carriage element of the machine and carries on one arm thereof a track follower and has its the track element through the bell-crank lever and the rack bar to resist advance of the carriage relative to the rack bar, it follows that for each step. of advance of the rack bar the carriage will advance an equal distance if the track element is disposed parallel to the path of movement of the carriage, and a slightly greater distance if the track element is disposed at an outward inclination to the path of advance movement of the carriage, the amount of gain in movement of the carriage relative to the rack bar depending, of course, upon the inclination of the Thus, in copying from typed sheets, lines which are shorter than normal may be lengthened by increasing the spacing between characters and groups of characters so that all of the lines will be of the same length.

According to the present construction, a tr ack element supporting bar 16 is mounted transversely of the machine at the rear thereof on brackets 17 which are secured rigidly to the frame of the machine, and, if desired, any suitable provision may be made for longitudinal adjustment of this bar.

The bar 16 is toothed or notched along its rear edge as indicated at 18, and the track element 14 is mounted on said bar through the instrumentality of a block 19 which is slidably adjustable along said bar and which carries suitable means, designated generally as 20, for cooperation with the teeth or notches 18 to hold the block in any desired position of adjustment.

Thetrack element 14 is of L-shape in cross section and at its right hand end is provided with a depending pin 21 which is received in an opening in the block 19, whereby the track element is mounted, not only for longitudinal adjustment with said block, but also for pivotal or swinging movement in a horizontal planeso that its inclination with respect to the path of movement of the carriage may be varied.

Brackets 22 are secured to the frame of the machine at the rear thereof andin these brackets is mounted, for rotation and for longitudinal sliding movement, a shaft 23. A pair of arms 24 extend rearwardly from said shaft and are connected together by a bar 25, and on said bar is slidably mounted, for adjustment therealong,

a block 26 which carries a track stop element 27 having a cam shaped forward edge engaging the rear face of the track element. Thus, by longitudinally adjusting the block 26 along the bar 25, any desired initial angular adjustment of the track element 14 may be obtained, while by rotating the shaft 23 and thereby swinging the block 26 and the stop element 27, the cam shaped forward edge of the stop element will be caused to wipe against the track element and the latter will be urged forwardly or will be permitted to swing rearwardly, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft, so that for any given adjusted position of the block 26 along the bar 25 and a, corresponding angular disposition of the track element 14, the angularity of said track element may be increased or decreased by rotation of the shaft 23.

Suitably secured to the carriage 11 of the machine and extending rearwardly therefrom at the left hand end thereof is a horizontally disposed plate 28 to which the bell-crank lever 15 is pivoted asindicated at 29, said bell-crank lever underlying the plate 28 and being inclusive of a pair of arms 30 and 31 the former of which extends forwardly and is connected by a rod 32 with the rack bar 13, and the latter of which extends generally in a right hand direction and carries a track follower in the form ofa shoe 33 for sliding engagement with the track element 14.

'Also underlying the plate 28 and pivoted at its left hand end to said plate, as at 34', at a point to the left of, the bell-crank lever 15, is a combined stop and latch element 35 which extends to the right in underlying relationship to the arm 30 of the bell-cranl; lever and which, at the rear portion of its free or right hand end, is suitably formed to constitute a stop lug 36. In addition, said .element 35, near its free or right hand end, has a notch 3'7 formed therein and opening through its forward edge.

A switch arm 38 underlies the plate 28 and is pivoted at its right hand end on the same pivot 34 as the element 35, said arm 38 extending to the left and being exposed at the left hand end of the plate 28 to be manually swung forwardly and rearwardly to .render the variable spacing end, as at 40, to the element at a suitable point to the right of the pivot; 34 of said element 35, and connecting the free or left hand end of said cranked link with the switch arm 38 at a suitable point to the left of the pivot 34 of said switch arm, is a contractile coil spring 41. When the switch arm 38 is swung forwardly against a suitable stop, such as a pin 42 depending from the plate 28, a straight line extending through the pivot 40 and the points of connection of the spring 41 with the switch arm and the link 39 will be disposed forwardly of the pivot 34. Consequently, the spring 41- will act to swing the element 35 forwardly. On the other hand, when the switch arm 38 is swung rearwardly against another stop in the form of a second pin 43 depending from the plate 28, a straight line extending through the pivot 40 and the points of connection of the spring 41 with the switch arm and the cranked link 39 will be disposed rearwardly of the pivot 34 and consequently the spring 41 will act to swing the element 35 rearwardly.

Underlying the plate 28 and pivoted thereto, as at 44, is a check lever 45 of bell-crank form having a forwardly extending arm 46 which overlies the free end portion of the element 35, and

is connected at its other end with the check lever 45 whereby it tends constantly to swing said check lever in a counter-clockwise direction, or, in other words, to throw the arm 47 rearwardly and the arm 46 to the right against a pin 52 carried by the element 35:

The arm 46 of the check lever 45 is shouldered as indicated at 53, and the arm 30 of the bellcrank lever 15 is provided with a depending pin 54 for engagement in the notch 37 of the element 35, and in this connection and by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be observed that when the switch arm 38 is disposed forwardly against its stop pin 42 and the mechanism is in an inoperative position, the pin 54 is disposed in the notch 37 and the bell-crank lever 15 thereby is restrained against swinging movement, and the pin 52 is disposed in spaced relationship to the shoulder 53.

The block 19 to which the track element 14 is pivoted, is provided with an upstanding stop 55, and the disposition of this stop is such, for any longitudinally adjusted position of the block 19 along the bar 16, that it is disposed rearwardly of the stop formation 36 at the free or right hand end of the element 35 when the latter is in a forwardly swung position latching the bell-crank lever 15 against swinging movement as shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, when the switch arm 38 is in its forward position and the mechanism is inoperative, the stops 36, 55 'do not cooperate in any way to restrict movement of the carriage 11 and the machine may be used for typing in the usual way, since the bell-crank lever 15 is latched J in a position in which the track follower 33 clears the forwardmost part of the track element 14.

When the switch arm 38 is in its forward position and the bell-crank lever 15 is latched in an inoperative position by the element 35 as shown in Fig. 3, the arm 47 of the check lever 45 is disposed to have its inclined rear edges 49 and 50 engage the stop as the carriage is moved to the right and the left, respectively, but under such conditions, the check lever simply is swung idly in a clockwise directionand is returned to its position shown in Fig. 3 by the spring 51 whenever the arm 47 passes the stop 55.

Assuming that the mechanism has an in-,

operative status as illustrated in Fig. 3 and that the switch arm 38 is swung rearwardly against its stop to render the mechanism operative, it is apparent that the spring 41 actsinitially to swing the element 35 rearwardly until the pin 52 engages the shoulder 53 of the arm 46 of the check lever 45 and that further rearward swinging movement of the element 35 thereby is prevented while the pin 54 remains in the notch 37. Therefore, the bell-crank lever'15 is not immediately released, but the lug 36 at the free or right hand end of the element 35 is disposed to engage the stop 55. This status of the mechanism is illus* trated in Fig. 4.

The free end of the arm 47 of the check lever 45 extends in a righthand direction beyond the lug 36. Therefore, if the switch arm 38 is thrown rearwardly'when the mechanism is disposed/to the left hand side of the stop 55 and the carriage subsequently is moved to the right, the inclined edge 49 of the arm 47 of the check lever will engage the lug 55 and by reason of said inclined edge riding against said lug the check lever will be rotated in a clockwise direction until the shoulder-53 is moved from behind the pin 52. The element 35 then will be free to be moved rearwardly and by the spring 41 will be so moved until it comes to rest in its rearmost position against a stop pin 56 depending from the plate 28, this operation obviously occurring just prior to engagement of the lug 36 with the stop 55. Thus, by the time the lug 36 engages the stop 55 and halts further movement of the carriage 11in a right hand direction, the element 35 is at its rearmost position in which its notch 37 is'disposed forwardly of the pin 54 and the bell-crank lever 15 thereby is released to swing in a counter-clockwise direction until its shoe 33 engages the track element 14. Also, rearward swinging movement of the element 35 results in the pin 52 riding rearwardly along the right hand edge of the arm 46 of the check lever 45 and holding the check lever in a position in which it no longer is affected by subsequently'passing the stop 55. This constitutes an operative status of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 5. V 1

In view of the foregoing it is,apparent that the switch arm 38 may be swung from its forward position to its rearmost position at any time while the mechanism is disposed to the left hand side of- Assuming that the mechanism has an inoperative status and that the switch arm 38 is swung rearwardly whenthe mechanism is disposed at the right hand side of the stop 55, the same initial operation will occur as previously set forth and subsequent movement of the carriage to the left will result in the check lever 45 being rotated in a'clockwise direction by engagement of the cam face 50 of the arm 4'7 of the check lever with the stop 55 and again the mechanism will -be automatically operated to establish an operative status thereof, the element 35 simply riding idly over the stop 55 by being urged forwardly thereby and subsequently returning to its rear position as the carriage is moved to the left.

The reason for the arrangement as described whereby the bell-crank lever 15 is not immediately released upon throwing of the switch arm 38 is to assure that the track follower 33 is in a position in front of the-track 14 when the bell-crank lever is released, for if the bell-crank lever were released when thet'rack follower is disposed beyond the right hand 'end of the track element 14, subsequent movement of the carriage 11 in a left hand direction might result in serious damage to the mechanism and in any'event likely would result in jamming of the mechanism.

Once an operative status of the mechanism h been established with the lug 36 disposed to the left hand side of the stop 55, said lug thereafter .szrves by engagement with said stop to limit movement of the carriage in a righthand direction. Therefore, the position of the block 19 along the bar '16 determines the left hand margin of the matter to be typed. In this connection it will be observed that the extreme right hand end of the track element 14 is coincident with the pivot 21 of said track element, that the disposition of the stop 55 relative to said pivot 21 is such, that the disposition of the cam faces 49, 50 relative to the lug 36 is such, and that the disposition of the track follower 33 relative to the lug 36 is such, that when said lug engages said stop 55 and thereby halts right hand movement of the carriage, the pivot of the track follower is disposed in exact alinement with the right hand endof the track element 14. This obviously assures correct initial operation of the variable spacing means for each line regardless of the angularity of the track element.

When the mechanism'has an operative status as illustrated in Fig. and it is desired to render the same inoperative, the switch arm 38 may be thrown at any time to its forwardmost position,

but unless the track follower happens to be alined with the forwardmost part of the track element 14 at the right hand end of the latter, such throwing of the switch arm will'simply result in a disposition of the spring 41 and the cranked link 39 tending to throw the element 35 forwardly but without effect to do so because of theengagement of the pin 54 with the forward edge of the element 35 to the right of the notch 37. The mechanism therefore will remain operative following throwing of the switch arm to its forwardmost position until the carriage is moved sufllciently to the right to' cause the bell-crank lever 15 by cooperation with the track element to swing in a clockwise direction until the pin 54 alines with the notch 3'7, whereupon the element 35 will move rearwardly under the influence of the spring 41 and latch the bell-crank against again swinging in a counter-clockwise direction. An inoperative status of the mechanism'as illustrated in Fig. 3 will thus be established.

Regarding the track follower 33, this has the form in the present instance of a somewhat elongated fiat shoe depending from a plate 58 which underlies the bell-crank arm 31 and is pivoted thereto as indicated'at 59, the rear face of the shoe which slidably engages the track element 14 being disposed coincident with the axis of the pivot 59. A light spring 60'tends constantly to rotate the plate 58 in a counter-clockwise direction against a stop pin 61, and when said plate is stopped by said pin the shoe 33 is disposed parallel to the pathof movement of the carriage 11., Thus, when the mechanism is inoperative the shoe is maintained in a position in which it is free to pass by the right hand end of the track element. However, the light spring 60 permits the shoe readily to accommodate itself to the angularity of the track element, and by reason of the rear face of the shoe being disposed in a plane including the axis of the pivot 59 the effective point of contact of the shoe with the track element always is in the axis of the pivot 59. A flat shoe slidably engaging the track element distributes the pressure thereagainst and is conducive to exceptionally smooth operation of the mechanism.

As the carriage 11 advances in a left hand direction and the shoe 33 rides along the track element 14, it is apparent that the bell-crank lever 15 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction and that the arcuate movement of the pivot 59 of the shoe results in the axis of said pivot and, consequently, the effective point of contact of the shoe with the track element, gaining or creeping in a left hand direction relative to the carriage. As aforesaid, to compensate for this creeping constitutes one of the novel features of the present invention, and such compensationis effected by means now to bev described in detail.

On the frame of the machine, at the left hand side of the keyboard thereof, is fastened a plate 62, and projecting laterally from the ends of said plate are lugs 63 in which are supported the ends of a screw 64. Threaded on said screw is a plurality of nuts 65 which are disposed in spaced relation to each other to provide, between each adjacent pair thereof, a notch 66. The nuts are spaced sufilciently from the plate 62 so that they may be rotated to adjust the notches 66 longitudinally of the screw. A cap element 67 is provided to rest upon the lugs 63 and to cover the nuts 65, and screws 68 extending through said cap element into the lugs 63 serve to removably secure it in covering relation to the nuts 65. At the outer side of the 'cap element is a depending flange 69 which engages the outer faces of the nuts 65 and holds them against rotation. On the top of the cap element is a longitudinally extending rib 70, and to the right hand side of this rib the cap element is marked or indexed, as indicated at '71, corresponding to the several notches 66. Fastened at its ends to' the lugs 63 and spaced outwardly from the flange 69 of the. cap element 6'7 is a finishing plate '72. Disposed within the slot between the fiange '69 and the finishing plate '72 for sliding movement along said slot is the vertical arm '73 of a finger piece '74 which is inclusive of a horizontal arm 75 extending inwardly from the upper end of the arm '73 in overlying relationship to the cap element 6'7. At the lower end of the arm '73 is an inwardly directed rib or tongue '76 constituting a dog for cooperation with the notches 66. Carried by the arm '75 at-the underside thereof and slidably engaging the upperface of the cap element 67 is a leaf spring '77 which tends constantly to elevate the finger piece '74 to cause the tongue or rib '76 to be retained in any notch 66 with which it may be alined.

At the top of the arm '75 is asuitable finger engageable formation '78. By pressing downwardly on this formation against the force of the spring '77 the tongue or rib '76 may be disengaged from any particular notch -66 and the finger piece 74 may he slid longitudinally of the cap element to bring the tongue or rib into alinement with any other notch 66, and upon release of the finger piece the spring 77 will function to elevate the same and engage the tongue or rib 76in the notch selected. When the finger piece is depressed its sliding movement along the cap element is facilitated by engagement of the arm 75 with the rib '70. I I

The finger piece 74 isvconnected by an arm 79 witha lever arm 80 which is fixed to and depends from the shaft 23. Consequently, adjustment of the finger. piece as aforesaid is effective to rotate the shafti23- and, with it, the track stop element 27, a certain amount of angular or rotative movement being imparted to said stop elementfor each step of adjustmentof the finger piece as represented by'the spacing between adjacent notches 66. In this connection it is pointed out that the forward edge of the stop element 27 is of such cam shape that for each step of adjustment of the finger piece 74 and corresponding rotation or angular movement of the stop element, the track element 14 is swung forwardly, or 1 is permitted to swing rearwardly, as the case may be, depending upon the direction of adjustment of the finger piece, an amountsuch that the carriage 11, through the cooperation of the bellcrank 15 with the track element 14, gains orloses' the stop element 27 is rotated an amount to hold the track element in a position to provide for a gain of one typing space in the complete length of travel of the carriage: Thus, if, for example, a? line to be copied has five less characters than are necessary to make the line of required length, the

. finger piece 74 simply is adjusted until its tongue 76 is engaged in the sixth from the rearmost notch 66, which automatically adjusts the stop 27 v to holdthe track element in a position providing for a gain of five typing spaces in the complete length of travel of the carriage.

Coiled about the left hand end of the shaft 23 is a spring 81 which is engaged at its ends with the arm 80 and the adjacent bracket 22, respectively, and which tends constantly to rotate said 65; lever 15 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction with the result that for each step of advance of the carriage there results a slight gain or creeping movement of the shoe 33 in a left hand direction along the track .element 14. As aforesaid, one

of the features of the present invention'resides.

in the provision of simple means to compensate for such gain or creeping of the shoe 33. Between the right hand bearing bracket 22 and a suitable abutment 82 on the shaft 23 is interposed an expansion coil spring 83 whi h tends constantly to slide said shaft 23 in a left hand direction in its bearing brackets 22. On the inner face of the left hand bracket 22 is a cam 84, while fixed to and extending forwardly. from the shaft 23 is an arm 85 carrying a roller 86 which rides against said cam 84. The amount that the shaft 23 and the stop 27' are moved to the right or the left as the case may be, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft, is determined on the one hand by the shape of the cam 84 and, on the other hand, by the angle through which the shaft is rotated. In this connection it is pointed out that the shape of the cam 84 is such that for an angular movement of the shaft 23 corresponding to movement of the finger piece 74 between any two notches 66, the stop 27 is shifted to the right or to the left, as the case may be, an amount such as to swing the track element 14 forwardly,or to permit it to swing rearwardly, through a slight ment 14. Thus, gain or creeping movement of the track follower 33 along the track element 14 is, in effect, nullified and varying of the angularity of the track element does not result in variation in the lengths of the typed lines.

- Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 5

1. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar -Which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longtudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to the path of travel'of the carriage, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, a track follower mounted on the other arm thereof, a stop element at the rear of the track element movable longitud nally with respect thereto to vary the inclination thereof, and means at the front of the machine operatively connected with said stop element for adjusting the same longitudinally of the track element. j

2, In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an

escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to the path of travel of the carriage, a bellcrank lever pivoted to the carriage and having which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to the path of travel of the carriage, a bellcrank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, a track follower mounted on the other arm thereof, a stop element at the rear of the track element swingably adjustable to vary the inclination of the track element, said stop element also being adjustable longitudinally of the track element to, vary the inclination thereof, a single actuating element slidablyadjustable forwardly andrearwardly of the machine, a connection between said actuating element and said stop element whereby sliding adjustment of the former effects swinging adjustment of the latter, and means whereby swinging adjustment of the stop element produces longitudinal adjustment thereof.

4. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination.

to the path of travel of the carriage, a bellcrank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, a track follower mounted on the other arm thereof, a stop. element at the rear of the track element swingably adjustable to vary the inclination of the track element, a finger piece at the front of the machine slidably adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and having a tongue,

means to hold said finger piece in different slidably adjusted positions comprising a threaded rod and a plurality of tongue engageable stop elements threaded thereon for adjustment therealong, and a connection between said finger piece and said stop element whereby sliding adjustment of the former effects swinging adjustment of the latter.

5. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element pivoted at one end at the rear of the machine to be swingably adjusted to different inclinations relative to the path of travel of the carriage, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, and a track follower pivoted to the other arm-of said bell-crank lever, said track follower being in the form of a shoe having a flat track element engaging face disposed in a plane including the pivotal axis of the shoe and extending in the direction of the track element to either side of said pivotal axis.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 including spring means'tending constantly to rotate the shoe to a position in which its fiat track element engaging face is disposed parallel to the path of movement of the carriage.

7. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar; which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable,

a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to the path of travel of the carriage, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, a track follower mounted on the other arm thereof, a stop element at' the rear of the track element swingably adjustable to .vary the inclination of the track element, said stop element also being adjustable longitudinally of the track element to vary the inclination thereof, a fixed cam, and a cam follower connected to said stop element and engaging said cam whereby swinging adjustment of the stop element produces longitudinal adjustment thereof.

8. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a block adjustable transversely of the machine, a track element pivoted to said block for adjustment to diiferent'inclinations relative to the path of travel of the carriage, a stop carried by said block, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage, a connection between one arm of said bell-crank lever and said bar, a track follower connected with the other arm of said bell-crank lever, a member mounted on the carriage for movement between a position to engage said stop element to limit right hand movement of the carriage and a position to clear-said stop element, a switch lever pivoted to the carriage for movement between two definite positions, means connecting said switch lever with said member and tending in one of the positions of the switch lever to move said member to its first mentioned position, said means tending in the other position of the switch lever to move said member to its second mentioned position, and means whereby movement of the bell-crank lever to an inoperative position relative to the track element when the switch lever is in a position in which the tendency of the member is to move to its second mentioned position results in the bell-crank lever being locked in an inoperative position by said member. 1

'9. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a block adjustable transversely of the machine, a track element pivoted to said block foradjustment to different inclinations relative to the path of travel of the carriage, a stop carried by said block, a bell-crank lever pivoted to the carriage, a connection between one arm of said bell-crank lever and said bar,'a track follower connected with the other arm of said bell-crank lever, a member mounted on the car'- riage for movement between a position to engage said stop element to limit right hand movement ing position relative to the track element, following shifting of the switch lever to its position in which the tendencyof the member is to move to its first mentioned position, effects release of the bell-crank lever.

v 10. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a block adjustable transversely of the machine, a track element pivoted to said block for adjustment to different inclinations relative to the path of travel of the carriage, a stop carried by said block, a bell-crank lever pivoted .to the carriage, a connection between one arm of said bell-crank lever and said bar, a track follower connected with the,o,ther arm of said bell-crank lever, a member mounted on the carriage for movement between a position to engage said stop element to limit righthand movement of the carriage and a position to clear said stop element, a switch lever pivoted to the carriage for movement between two definite positions, means connecting said switch lever with said member and tending in one of the positions of whereby upon throwing of the switch lever to its other position the member is held in a position locking the bell-crank lever in an inoperative position until the carriage is moved to bring the track follower to a starting position relative to the track element, and means whereby when the switch arm is thrown to its last mentioned posi-,

tion and the carriage is moved to bring the track follower to a starting position relative to the track element the bell-crank lever is released.

11. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typ writer keys and with re.-

. spect to which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to the path of travel of the carriage, a bellcrank lever pivoted to the carriage and having one arm connected to said bar, -a track follower mounted on the other arm thereof, a stop element at the rear of the track element swingably adjustable to vary the inclination of the track element, a finger piece at the front of the machine slidably adjustable forwardly and rearwardly of the machine, means to hold said finger piece in different slidably adjusted positions comprising a plurality of finger piece engageable stop elements which are adjustable to predetermine the different adjusted positions of the finger piece, and a connection between said finger piece and said stop element whereby sliding adjustment of the former effects swinging adjustment of the latter.

12. In a typewriting machine, a carriage, an escapement mechanism therefor including a bar which is advanced step-by-step in response to actuation of the typewriter keys and with respect: fto which the carriage is longitudinally movable, a variable spacing feed mechanism for the carriage comprising a track element. at the rear of the machine to be disposed at an inclination to 

